Adjustable support element



Dec. 28, 1965 B. E. JOHNSON 3,226,072

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT ELEMENT Filed Dec. 14, 1964 3 fizz/71 Z. Jail/ 522 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,226,072 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT ELEMENT Bertii E. Johnson, 1715 15th St., Sacramento, Calif. Filed Dec. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 418,195 6 Claims. (Cl. 248223) This invention relates to a support element or hook which is adapted to extend linearly from the edge of a fiat supporting plate.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of such a support which may be extended from either a horizontal or vertical edge of a supporting plate, and fixedly secured in position to support articles in offset relation to the supporting plate.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an apertured panel or board hook which may be attached in the openings adjacent the side or top of an apertured panel or board or any perforated supporting medium and extend vertically from the top of the board and in alignment with the edge thereof or alternatively horizontally from the side thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a hook or such a support which will firmly retain its position relative to its associated board once assembled therewith, and wherein accidental displacement is substantially precluded.

A further object is the provision of such a hook which may be readily removed from its associated support when desired.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there are disclosed preferred forms of the instant inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front plan view of a support such as a Peg Board showing two forms of the invention connected thereto, one extending from the top edge thereof and the other from a side edge;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG- URE 1 taken substantially along the line 33 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the supports shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the other of the supports shown therein.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at It a fragment of a conventional apertured panel such as a Peg Board of any desired size and of the usual thickness having the usual multiplicity of openings 11 therein arranged in vertical and horizontal equidistantly spaced rows.

Gne form of support according to the instant invention is generally indicated at 12, and a second form is generally indicated at 13, the principal components and general arrangement of each form being substantially identical. Referring first to support or hook 12, it will be seen that the same is comprised, illustratively, of a single length of wire, and includes an elongated supporting element 14, the tip of which is bent upwardly as at 15 to afford horizontal support for an article suspended therefrom or resting thereon. At the end of support 14 opposite tip 15 is a lateral offset 16 from which a first offset portion 17 extends. First offset portion 17 is reverted ts at 18 in a vertical plane and has an underlying leg 19 which terminates in a horizontal bight 20 from which extends a second off- 3,226,072 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 ice set portion 21, of a length substantially equal to the first offset portion 17. From the end of the second offset portion 21 an extension 22 projects in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of support element 14. The upper end of extension 22 is inturned as at 23 to provide a portion substantially parallel to the bight 20 and terminates in a third offset portion 24.

The species of the invention disclosed in FIGURE 5 comprises substantially the same elements and includes an elongated support 14a having at one end an offset 16a from which extends a first offset portion 17a reverted as at 18a and extending to a bight 20a from which extends a second parallel offset portion 21a having a perpendicular extension 22a, a transverse portion 23a, and a third offset portion 24a, all identical to the previously discussed modification. However, in this form of the invention the support 14a is adapted to extend vertically from the top edge T of apertured board 10 and at its outer end instead of the tip 15 has a reverted depending portion 25 which is re-reverted as at 26 and terminates in an upwardly extending portion 27 which forms a U-shaped support in which an article may be hung or supported.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The hook 12a is positioned at a desired location along the side edge S of the Peg Board, the support element 14 extending transversely therefrom and with the first and second offset portions 17 and 21 extending on opposite sides of the board. The extension 22 extends upwardly along the face of the board and parallel to the side edge while third extension 24 is positioned in a selected opening, the portion 23 extending through the opening. The arrangement is thus such that any weight carried by support 14 exerts a force first against the edge S of the board and secondly against the side of the opening 11 through which the portion 23 extends, so that the horizontal support is firmly secured against displacement. In the other form of the invention support 14a is extended upwardly from the top edge T of the board with first offset portion 17a on one side thereof and second offset portion 21a on the opposite side thereof with the extension 22a extending horizontally across the top of the boa-rd, and offset portion 24a engaging in a selected opening 11. In this modification the two offset portions 17a and 21a acting in conjunction with the transverse part 23a serve securely to hold support 14a and its associated hook 26 in upright position on the top of the board.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved support or apertured board hook or support having great versatility of adjustment and adaptation, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A support element comprising an elongated support having a first offset portion comprising a longitudinal extension of said support and a second oppositely offset portion parallel to said first offset portion, said first and second offset portions being adapted to extend on opposite sides of a normally vertical flat base member, an extension at the end of one of said offset portions in substantially right angled relation to said support adapted to extend in flush relation to one side of the base member, an inturned portion at the free extremity of said extension adapted to engage in an opening in the fiat base member, and a third offset portion at the end of said inturned portion adapted to extend in flush relation to the other side of said flat base member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support element is formed of a single length of wire.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first oifset portion comprises a reverted end of said elongated support.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said second offset portion is connected to said first offset portion by a bight.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support element constitutes a hook for an apertured board and the base from the edge of which the elongated support extends is a normally apertured board, having a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows of equidistantly spaced apertures therein.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said elongated sup port extends vertically from the top edge of the board and is provided with a U-shaped end portion having an open top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,604 1/1911 Herring 248-211 1,238,295 8/1917 Hunt 248-211 1,728,613 9/1929 Jones 248220 2,508,258 5/ 1950 Heinrich 248210 10 2,957,671 10/1960 Messier 248-223 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,091 6/1952 Switzerland.

5 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT ELEMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUPPORT HAVING A FIRST OFFSET PORTION COMPRISING A LONGITUDINAL EXTENSION OF SAID SUPPORT AND A SECOND OPPOSITELY OFFSET PORTION PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST OFFSET PORTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OFFSET PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A NORMALLY VERTICAL FLAT BASE MEMBER, AN EXTENSION AT THE END OF ONE OF SAID OFFSET PORTIONS IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLED RELATION TO SAID SUPPORT ADAPTED TO EXTEND IN FLUSH RELATION TO ONE SIDE OF THE BASE MEMBER, AN INTURNED PORTION AT THE FREE EXTREMITY OF SAID EXTENSION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE IN AN OPENING IN THE FLAT BASE MEMBER, AND A THIRD OFFSET PORTION AT THE END OF SAID INTURNED PORTION ADAPTED TO EXTEND IN FLUSH RELATION TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FLAT BASE MEMBER. 